Choosing which grad schools to apply to can be a very overwhelming process. It’s a huge decision that you have to make that sets you on your path for your future.
I had absolutely NO idea what I was doing when I was trying to make a decision of where to apply to grad school. There were so many things to take into consideration like programs, courses, research opportunities, finances, location, and so much more.
I’m going to be sharing with you the best tips to use to decide where to apply for grad school. This is everything I did before applying to grad schools and getting accepted into my dream school!!
Make a list of your must haves
Start by making a list of things that are non-negotiable for the school that you want to attend. Think about things like location, networking opportunities, research.
What are things that you need to have? Maybe it’s a necessity for you to have a Starbucks in walking distance – lol just kidding…
Starting with this list can help you begin to narrow down your options. Don’t settle for things when it comes to your education and what is going to shape your future.
Set up meetings with the program directors
I set up meetings with the directors of each MBA program I was interested in applying for. It gave me a chance to introduce myself before applying as well as find out lots of information about their programs.
When I went to the meetings I asked ALL the questions to find out if this program would be a good fit for myself.
I was able to narrow down my list of schools I was interested in applying to just by having these meetings. It saved me a lot of time and ton of money in application fees!
Find out what scholarships or financial aid offered
Finances are one of the biggest deciding factors when it comes to school. Knowing what is in your budget will help narrow down your list of potential schools.
Find out if there are scholarship opportunities available to you or graduate assistantships. A lot of colleges offer graduate assistantships or tuition scholarships for students in their grad programs. Most of the time your tuition will be completely covered by working for the university.
Talk to students in the program
Reach out to students that are already in the program to see how they like it and to find out some insider info! This is a great way to get the inside scoop on the program, the professors, the campus, etc. They can help guide you with the application process as well.
